Mudkicker is finally done! Using scrap wood, spare bike parts, and a toilet brush, we have successfully created a more efficient way of knocking dirt, dust, and debris of of your shoes after a walk, hike, or any other outing. No need to dirty your meticulously kept vehicle or home. Kick the mud before you step inside and save yourself the trouble!

One notable difference from the previous post is the use of another cog to provide tension. This prevents the chain from skipping, even when faced with resistance.

Visit the Final Design page for more photos and a demonstration video.

Demo of pre-production.

Very close to final product, but there is too much slack in the drive system, so load on the brush causes the chain to skip on the small cog. This issue is resolved by adding another cog to add tension and improve the chainline.

Prototype 2 Video

Description:

This second prototype is intended to be a follow-up of the first, elaborating specifically on the crank mechanism. Instead of using a chain for the prototype, a belt and pulley system is used on 2 axles. Spinning the top pully will also spin the bottom pully, and consequently, cause the “brush” on the bottom axle to spin as well. In the final product, Cogs and chains will be used to greatly increase the efficiency of the system in regard to power transfer.

Prototype 1 Video

Description:

This is the first prototype that roughly shows the general frame structure of our project.

Coming into the design and prototyping phase, we’re starting out with some rough sketches to get a general idea of what it will look like and how it’ll operate. It all begins somewhere!

This site is dedicated to ENGR 107 Group 4’s final project, MudKicker. It is a hand-operated, crank-powered spinning brush tool designed to kick mud, dirt, and other grime and debris off of your shoes. Updates and information will be posted here.